Best Overall: KitchenAid Top Control Tall Tub Dishwasher in Stainless Steel

This popular dishwasher is our top overall pick, thanks to its modern design and cycle features. The sleek stainless steel exterior and hidden top controls dishwasher will blend seamlessly into your kitchen. Inside, you’ll find a stainless steel tub that offers excellent resistance to stains and odors, along with a hard food disposer. This model operates at 43 decibels, which is much quieter than the industry standard.

The control panel becomes visible when you open the dishwasher door, and includes options for six cycles, plus buttons for heated dry, high-temperature wash, and delay start. A sensor can detect how dirty the dishes are and how full the dishwasher is to optimize the cycle. The unit also has a Clean Wash System that promises to continuously remove debris from the wash water—resulting in less stuck-on food particles and a filter that needs cleaning. In fact, there’s no need to remove and clean the filter, which saves you a step in maintaining this top overall dishwasher.

A front panel display alerts you to the dishwasher’s progress through the cycle—so you know when you can still add that last coffee cup or forgotten wine glass. People like this feature and find the dishwasher works as good as it looks. The only drawback sometimes mentioned by users is that this dishwasher is not especially easy or intuitive to learn. As an example, one person pointed out that you need to press the start button twice to begin a cycle. So make sure you read the manual to learn all the features and functions of the KitchenAid Top Control Tall Tub Dishwasher.

Best Budget: Amana Front Control Tall Tub Dishwasher

You can still have a built-in dishwasher on a budget, thanks to a capable and affordable model like the Amana Front Control Tall Tub Dishwasher. This simple but complete unit has all the features you need to clean up to 12 place settings.

The Amana Front Control Tall Tub Dishwasher has limited cycle selections, but this is true of most budget dishwashers. Select from Normal, Heavy, or 1-hour wash cycles. You can also add a high temperature or heated dry option to any of those three cycles. You should know that the heated dry feature has mixed results, according to users that have tried it.

Still, for just over $300, it’s hard to beat the value of this budget dishwasher. The plastic tub inside makes the dishwasher lightweight and easier on the wallet, too. There’s no hard food disposer, but the Amana compensates with a triple filter system. Just don’t expect this dishwasher to be whisper quiet. At 63 decibels, this model is considerably louder than mid-to-high end dishwashers, but again, this is to be expected for a budget dishwasher.

Even with all these concessions in mind, people are generally very satisfied with the Amana Front Control Tall Tub Dishwasher. The fact that its available in black, white, or stainless steel finishes boosts its visual appeal and ensures that you can match your kitchen décor even when designing on a dime.

Not sure which model to go with? Our dishwasher buying guide can help you find the right appliance for your kitchen.

03 of 10

Best Under $500: Whirlpool Front Control Built-in Tall Tub Dishwasher

For a dishwasher under $500, this built-in model from Whirlpool covers all the bases and delivers a speedy performance that you can count on. The Whirlpool Front Control Tall Tub Dishwasher (model WDF520PADM) is available in black, white, or stainless steel finishes to complement your kitchen scheme.

You’ll have to make a few concessions for a built-in dishwasher under $500, but the sacrifices won’t impair the dishwasher’s performance. The tub is heavy-duty plastic instead of stainless steel and the dishwasher operates at 55 decibels, which is louder than other high-end dishwashers on the market. However, this model features a tall tub design that can accommodate up to 14 place settings. It features four cycles and options for delay start, heated dry, and a high-temperature wash.

Despite Whirlpool emitting a few cycles and features found on other dishwasher models, this one has a quick wash option that can have your dishes done in an hour. It also features a soil sensor to determine how dirty each load is and adjust the wash cycle accordingly. Like many dishwashers, this model doesn’t do an outstanding job at drying dishes. Most often, though, this issue was resolved by adding a quick dry formula to the Rinse-Aid dispenser.

04 of 10

Best Portable: SPT SD-9241W 18-inch Portable Dishwasher

A portable dishwasher makes it easy to add the convenience of an automatic dishwasher to your kitchen without the work of installing a built-in unit. The SPT SD-9241W Portable Dishwasher is a popular pick for a compact dishwasher you can easily hook up to the sink for thorough and efficient dish cleaning.

This model from SPT is nicely outfitted with a stainless steel tub that will stand the test of time. It also includes 6 wash cycles that closely compete with the wash selections of full-sized dishwashers. The normal cycle takes about 2 hours, according to users, but if you’re short on time, a quick wash cycle is available and finishes in about an hour.

This portable dishwasher sits on 4 locking wheels, making it easy to store it away or wheel it over to the sink for use. It’s a good choice for small kitchens, apartments, or if you lack the ability to install a built-in model and need a portable dishwasher instead. Keep in mind that you’ll only be able to fit up to eight place settings inside this dishwasher, but it sure beats hand washing every plate, bowl, and piece of flatware.

Best Front Control: Maytag Front Control Dishwasher

For quick and simple dishwasher operation, keep controls front and center. The Maytag Front Control Tall Tub Dishwasher is accessible and easy to use with its readily available digital touchpad.

Model MDB4949SHZ from Maytag features simple to use button controls. Select from one of five cycles or pause the dishwasher mid-operation. You can also add a high-temperature wash option, sanitize feature, 4-hour delay start, or heated dry to any selected cycle. If you’re worried about leaning up against this front control dishwasher and accidentally pushing the buttons, a lock feature will alleviate your worries.

Inside the dishwasher is a stainless steel tub for durability and better odor resistance when compared to plastic dishwasher tubs. The dishwasher features two racks for your dishes and a silverware basket, but this is where the most common complaint about this dishwasher originates from. Some people had trouble fitting larger cups or glasses in one of the two dedicated rows for glassware on the top rack. One other thing to note is that some people felt the wash cycles were longer than expected, but they also often add that it performs well and removes stuck on residue.

If you plan on installing the dishwasher yourself, make sure you have the right tools and feel comfortable with the process before you get started.

06 of 10

Best Features: GE Profile Front Control Dishwasher

It can be hard to justify the price of a dishwasher when it costs nearly twice as much as budget models. When might those higher costs be worth it? A higher priced model can be a good investment if it adds extra features that make your life easier. According to customers, the GE Profile Front Control Dishwasher includes a lot of useful features that other models lack.

Beyond the high quality of wash that most GE dishwashers are known for, this model uses 140 cleaning jets to ensure your dishes are squeaky clean. Bottle Jets reach the inside of taller items like bottles and glasses, while 25 dedicated jet sprays reverse direction throughout the wash cycles to reach every corner and crevice. The spacious interior can fit an impressive 16 place settings, so if you have a large family or entertain often you'll appreciate the extra room. The interior has an upper rack with adjustable shelves for tall glasses, and the bottom rack has fold-down tines so you can customize the layout to accommodate larger dishes and platters. It's also has a hard food disposer, hard food filter, and automatic temperature control.

There are four wash cycles and a steam prewash, which users say is great at removing dried on food before the wash cycle even starts. Most customers agree that this model runs quietly at just 45 dBA, but on the downside, the installation process is a bit time-consuming. This dishwasher might look like an average model, but there are a lot of convenient features hidden in the interior.

07 of 10

Best High-End: GE Adora Top Control Dishwasher in Black Slate

For a high-end dishwasher with plenty of features, consider the GE Adora Top Control Dishwasher. This eye-catching model is available in six finishes, including on-trend and fingerprint-resistant black slate.

Look past the sleek door void of all buttons and equipped with a simple handle, and you’ll see a shiny stainless steel tub. This high-end dishwasher includes a third rack for flatware and utensils, similar to other top-end models. One thing that really sets the GE Adora dishwasher apart is the half wash option. You can wash the top or bottom racks separately with convenient ‘Wash Zones’ and you can use any cycle to do so.

Speaking of cycles, you’ll have plenty to choose from in this high-end dishwasher. The top of the door grants you access to the features and functions included with the GE Adora. There are 7 options to choose from, including specialty cycles like China/Crystal and Pots and Pans. You can also opt for a delayed start, heated dry, or high-temperature wash. And to really make residue disappear, this dishwasher features a steam pre-wash. Once you start using the GE Adora, you’ll understand why one reviewer said, “This unit has so many features it makes Swiss Army knives jealous.” Another user points out that this dishwasher has the easiest height adjustment for the second shelf that they’ve ever used in a dishwasher.

We could go on about the Piranha hard food disposer, the sensor wash to detect soil level, the EnergyStar rating, or quiet 48-decibel noise-level, but the point is that this is a high-end dishwasher you need to use to appreciate.

08 of 10

Best Energy Efficient: Bosch Ascenta Top Control Tall Tub Dishwasher

Reduce energy consumption and water usage by choosing an energy-efficient dishwasher. The Bosch Ascenta Top Control Tall Tub Dishwasher is engineered to exceed EnergyStar requirements for water consumption by 69 percent and is a popular pick if you want to reduce wastewater and energy usage.

Known for sleek German engineering, the Bosch Ascenta doesn’t disappoint with a smooth stainless exterior and sound-dampening materials. Under normal operation, this dishwasher operates at about 50 decibels. Its quiet operation concludes with an uncharacteristically loud end-of-cycle beep that frustrates some people, but it's a useful alert that your dishwasher is ready to be unloaded.

While the Ascenta holds up to 14 place settings, it offers you the option to further conserve energy by washing just a half-load at a time if you don’t have many dishes to do. Likely in the interests of energy efficiency, this model of dishwasher lacks a heater core—so the dishes don’t come out as dry as some people expected. Instead, if you opt for ‘Heated Dry’ when starting a cycle, the unit will use hot water during the final rinse cycle to raise the internal temperature of the unit which will speed up the drying process. Of course, this won’t get your dishes as dry as some other methods, but this is remedied by letting the dishes air dry longer or using a towel to wipe any small spots of water from items as you put them away.

Want to take a look at some other options? See our guide to the best bosch dishwashers.

Continue to 9 of 10 below.

09 of 10

Best Quiet: Samsung 24-inch WaterWall Dishwasher

There’s a lot to love about the Samsung WaterWall Dishwasher, but what stands out the most is its ultra-quiet operation. At only 38 decibels, you’ll be hard pressed to tell this unit is running—making it our top pick for a quiet dishwasher.

While the Samsung WaterWall is equipped with an indicator light to let you know the unit is running, some doubtful users have had to actually put their ear to the door to hear the action inside—that’s how quiet this dishwasher is! Normal conversation, the television, even the sound of a shower running all easily drown out the gentle drone of this nearly silent dishwasher. If you hate the white noise of conventional dishwashers, you should definitely consider the Samsung WaterWall.

As for its cleaning abilities, this model incorporates some innovative features. Two fan-favorites are the WaterWall mechanism in place of traditional spray arms and AutoRelease Dry. This dishwasher uses a vertical ‘water wall’ that washes dishes as it moves from left to right inside the unit. Additionally, you can Zone Booster to tell it which side to focus on if you put all your dirtiest dishes to one side or the other. People say that it really does clean even the dirtiest of dishes thoroughly and notice a real difference when compared to the performance of spray arms.

The AutoRelease Dry pops open the dishwasher’s door when the cycle is complete to let the steamy moisture escape. This largely eliminates the dreaded pools of water often found on the bottom of mugs and glasses. People also like it since it’s a visual cue that the dishwasher is done and ready to be emptied.

One thing to know is that this dishwasher includes a third rack called the ‘flex tray.’ Reviewers are mixed on the usefulness of this rack. Some people say it works great for small items that used to fall to the bottom of the dishwasher, while others find it takes too much space from the second rack. Fortunately, it’s removable, so you can decide if that feature works for you.

The neat features of the Samsung WaterWall are often discussed as perks by users, but nearly everyone agrees that it’s worth it to buy this dishwasher for the reduced noise factor alone. If you want a quiet dishwasher, this one is it.

Best with Third Level Rack: Whirlpool Top Control Built-In Dishwasher

Finding enough room for all the dishes and utensils you need to clean can be difficult in an average dishwasher. Awkward items with odd shapes only make matters worse. Dishwashers with a third level rack, however, provide more room in an otherwise unoccupied space. The Whirlpool Tall Tub, for example, will give you up to 37% more space compared to the average dishwasher without losing the quality wash features.

This dishwasher comes with a plethora of handy additions such as tap touch controls and quiet operation. The soil sensor will adjust the flow and amount of water depending on the level of grime to save on water usage. Dual interior jets will also ensure all of the dishes on each of the three levels will get the same rinse and main wash so nothing is left dirty when the cycle has completed.

How We Tested

We bought a top-rated dishwasher and our reviewers tested it for three months. We asked our testers to consider the most important features when using this dishwasher, from its capacity to its noise level. We’ve outlined the key takeaways here so that you, too, know what to look for when shopping.

What to Look for in a Dishwasher

Noise If you want a quieter model, choose a dishwasher with a decibel rating between 41 and 44. Less expensive models have decibel ratings closer to 60 — a noise level that’s comparable to the average conversation.

Capacity Most standard units can hold 12 place settings. If you wash oddly-sized items you might want a model with collapsible tines or adjustable shelves.

Size You’ll need at least a 24-inch wide opening for a built-in dishwasher. If your space is smaller you can consider an 18-inch wide model or dishwasher drawer.

What We Like

Quiet

Attractive design

Moveable inserts

What We Don't Like

Basic wash cycle takes too long

Stainless steel finish smudges easily

Spots of water visible after wash cycle

This dishwasher was a hit with one of our testers because it was very quiet: “Other than an occasional gurgle of water, it is nearly silent when running,” she noted. One reviewer also thought it was an “extremely attractive” appliance and liked its moveable inserts, which “allowed a ton of space to load dishes.” On the other hand, one of our testers observed that “spots of water are always visible [on silverware] after a wash cycle” and that the dishwasher’s “stainless steel finish smudges very easily.” Lastly, one reviewer commented that the basic wash cycle takes too long, but also suggested the quick wash option, which “significantly cut down on time.”